Here I am again. Can't believe it. It will be 5 weeks this Thursday (3/31/05) since I've had a root canal and the gum is still swollen and sore. I can chew on the tooth (which has not been crowned yet) but afterward, it throbs a bit. Even bending over makes it throb. Is this normal? I know I had a weird r/c because he told me I had 4 roots instead of one and there was A LOT of bleeding in the tooth. I'm scheduled for the crown (not sure of the procedure. This is my only cavity), on the 7th of April and am so afraid it's going to make whatever this is worse. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Hi Deb!

what did the dentist originally tell you? I know the endo said it was normal...

Mine still throbs slightly when I bend my head over too. Do you have siunitis real bad? I know I do and that definately does not help the mouth at all. Good luck on the 7th!

some people have an allergic reaction to the chemicals that are put into root canals. If you looked at your bloodwork, you will probably find your WBC out-of-range on the high side.

Many alternative health advocates recommend the removal of root canals, its a controversial subject that certainly deserves some serious thought. After all, its your health.

Deb: After visiting the dentist again today, I asked him about the dull ache i've been having on my root canaled tooth--he said that is totally normal--as long as it isn't say waking you up in the middle of the night-flaming-kind of pain--he said sometimes, though the infection has been taken out of the tooth, the roots cleaned and sealed, the bone itself still has to heal, thus it can take "awhile". THough he didn't specify how long awhile is. For me it's barely been 3 weeks since I've had mine.

I just thought this info might make you feel better!

Hi Rush: Thanks for the words of comfort, I really appreciate it! My endo told me 2 weeks ago that it was normal and "hurry up and get the crown". It's been 5 weeks since I had the r/c done, and it still throbs (like yours does) and the gum around the r/c'd tooth is really tender and sore. I am waiting for the endo to call me back. I don't think I should pay the $500 to get the crown next week, just to have to take it off and fix whatever. Hmm. The saga never ends. How are you doing?

I had a root canal a few months ago that was so sore and sensitive afterwards that I debated on getting the crown. The tooth had to actually be numbed up in order to be fitted for it. As soon as the temporary crown was put on, all the sensitivity and pain stopped; didn't have any pain when the permanent one was put on a few weeks later. I haven't had this problem before with rct, but the crown seemed to resolve the problem.

Deb, sorry you're having so much trouble with your tooth. Honestly, I would NOT get the crown until the tooth settles down or your dentist figures out what is going on. In my opinion, your dentist should not even want to place a crown on a tooth with so many symptoms. Was it possible that the root wall was perforated when the root canal was done? This can cause lots of bleeding. Something is not right. I sure hope you can figure out what's going on.

Deb,
I agree with soliloquy....no dentist in his/her right mind would permanently cement a crown until you are pain free and comfortable.

Normally after r/c, one gets a temp crown put on while the permanent one is being made. Are you just walking around with the stump of a tooth with not even a temp crown covering it?

Ooh good point Zuzu, the temp crown, I hear at least makes a difference!


Maisy that is awesome that the crown resolved it all, I too am having doubts about the real crown if I can't even chew on the fake one--but--

Thanks for asking how I am Deb--I am better, the soreness and stuff is still there like when I wake up in the morning or dont' elevate my head high enough. But I've been taking the Ibprofen less than I had been, so that's good, plus just the other day I actually did chew on the rc'd tooth and it was fine, no pain, though I could still "feel" the tooth I was chewing on, but the dentist I talked to yesterday, a diff one that did my root canal, said that that was a good sign, and that yes, even though you don't have a nerve there anymore you will still feel the tooth and pressure if you chew or bite down on something w/ it...b/c you still have feeling in your bone area, the area still sore from the deep set infection. The dentist that did the rc also said it was a good sign I can now chew some food on it , he didn't seem to think I should be totally pain free yet either. So maybe you & I just take longer to heal from this than others. When are you supposed to get your crown on again?

Thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions. I still have my tooth with a temporary filling in it. Was not fitted with a temp crown; am supposed to do that this week (Thurs). I am going back to the endo on Monday; he seems to think that my tooth is cracked. Dr. Deb (that's me) thinks that it's still bleeding up there somewhere. I agree, I don't think my dentist knows how badly it's feeling, or I'm sure he wouldn't do it (this is not my original dentist who started this whole thing Oct. 5th). "Was it possible that the root wall was perforated when the root canal was done? " I'm not sure what that means soliloquy, can you please elaborate? Thanks again!

I am new to this board.

I am glad you finally went to consult with an endodontist. If all root canal treatment were performed by endodontists, the horrific perception of root canals would not exist.

A perforation is a communication/a hole/an opening joining the inside of the root (the root canal system) and the bone. It is one of many things that can go wrong when a root canal is performed. Many times it is a gross error, other times it is inevitable depending on the anatomy of the root canal system.

Sometimes a root crack or perforation can be detected upon retreating a root canal however, many times, problems like that are impossible to detect unless a surgical endodontic proceedure is performed or until the tooth is ultimately extracted.

Good luck to you... Fortunately I believe you are in good hands now.

It doesn't happen very often, but the little files used for root canals can go through the side of the root rather than following the nerve canal especially if the roots are curved or some other unusual circumstance is present. When this happens, there is a lot of bleeding because the files are literally poking into the ligament and bone that surrounds the tooth. It's rare, but happens...

Hey Deb

I had a couple of root canals done last year. One went well....the other caused residual pain as yours did for about 2 months. My dentist recommended that I wait until the pain settle down before placing the permanent crown on because its quite expensive to go back in after the permanent crown is fixed. That made sense so I waited about 4 months before getting the permanent crown placed. Turns out the endo had pushed down too much material into the roots which pushed down into my gumline causing some of the pain. The materials eventually absorb which mine did but the tooth was quite painful for those 2 months. All turned out well....personally I'd give it some time for your tooth to "settle" down before getting that crown put on.

Best....Robb

I had two root canals last year. It took several months for the "phantom pain" to subside. Now everything is fine. I had the crowns done anyway.

Deb--So how's the pain doing now??? Man I THOUGHT I was doing better, it only would hurt after these latest 3 fillings when I'd eat and that was it...weeel last night I wake up at 2:15 in the morning in PAIN again! Gahhh! But I think it's just the bite, it's a nuisance but I'll have to stop by AGAIN after work today...these ppl are going to know me on a 1st name basis by the time I am through.....insane!

Sorry to come to your thread to vent but I didn't want to go start a new one just to fuss lol! Since we chatted I figured I'd tell ya the latest. I hope your mouth hasn't been waking you up like that! (Luckily I was able to get back to sleep though...ate 2 Ibprofens and plugged in the heating pad on hi!!!)

Thanks for all your thoughts, as usual! Rush, I can't believe you're still having problems too. Gosh, this bites! lol! Went to the endo and he can't find anything wrong. No cracks, tooth not loose, he can't "see or feel" any swelling, but the darn gum around the stupid tooth is STILL sore. I can eat, etc. but it's just always there. Will wait the couple months like somebody suggested in this (sorry, can't see the name when replying to this one), but it will be 8 weeks next Thursday. Hmm. Am on antibiotics (after finding out I'm allergic to amoxicillin) to see if that does anything. Fun, fun, fun!!!!

So, Deb still having trouble eh? That sucks...lol bite suck you can tell we are using terms to do w/ the mouth b/c we are SICK of it lol...

I finally got my crown put on today, that seemed to go well though I have no pain w/ it, they had a time getting it filled down to fit me--dentist said I have "Short-short" teeth...anyway there is still pain on my left side...none now on the right which is good b/c that means the root canal did go well, but it's torture on that right side where the most recent bit of fillings have been done on...he seemed to think it was due to them being so deep but he also adjusted my bite there---AGAIN....on the SAME tooth. I'm thinking my teeth must be shifting in my mouth or something! Crazy!

I hope you get to feeling better soon. I do have a question.. with your pain were you getting it really bad in the morning or right after you eat a meal? That's when mine feels the worst and it, if I don't take any Ibprofen--will travel all the way up to my ear and cheek area just awful. At least the ibprofen takes it away...during my bite being off AND after that root canal nothing at all worked!

Hi Rush, yea, still having problems and yea, lol, it does bite/suck! So you finally went through with the crown. Good for you, I hope!!! What kind of pain are you still having on the left side? That's the tooth that was crowned? I feel like my teeth are shifting around too, swear, it's crazy! I have the pain pretty much all the time. It's not really "painful", just more of a throb. I am just going to live with it and not get a crown. I just don't want to go through more of this............. Yea, I understand about it traveling up your ear and cheek. I can sometimes feel it in my eye too. Hang in there!!!

Yes--gosh me too deb, I can feel it in my eye area--especially when my Sinuses act up. I am hoping that's all it is--

And the pain I'm having is not the crowned tooth thank God---it's the left side which is where they last did 3 deep fillings--at once. My dentist had adjusted my bite on that side for the 2nd time---well, It hurt just to bite down on that darn paper they use. I just don't get it--I can almost tell you which tooth it is b/c once hot or cold touches that one tooth my entire mouth starts to throb and then it's my cheek and face, and ear and sometimes eye.

I am just glad I got my Dr to re fill my Rx for pain--darvosets. This way, I can sleep through the night!! But, he said that if I keep hurting I need to come in but I cannot keep missing days like this--these ppl know me by my 1st name now!!

Deb--the pain your feeling --does it occur only after eating like mine? For awhile i was waking up in VERY bad pain from sleeping all night...the bad part is that the side i"m hurting on is the side I sleep on a lot--so I have to get used to sleeping differently. But, it's bad enough to wake me at night if I don't take like 3 Ibprofens before bed....and that's bad considering my dentist thought it was "just sensitivity".

I don't know if it's me or not but like you said I feel like my teeth shifted--I mean where he adjusted that bite--exactly the same place--to me it still feels off but that tooth it THE SAME tooth that hurts sooo bad when hot or cold touches it.

On a positive note I a very thankful that my other side, the right side w/ the root canal calmed down!

Gizmo- tell me more about alternative health advocates wanting to do away with root canals. What do they recommend? Extractions?

hi debberd
i have had 3 root canals. the first one that i had done, is directly below my sinuses on the right hand side of my mouth, and it too hurts when i bend my head (dentist blames this on my sinuses) - my root canals are 8mths old, 7 mths old and 1 week old respectively (two crowned and one still awaiting crown) and im still in pain on that side of my mouth. at night it throbs and keeps me awake.
with regards to your particular problem of whether to get a crown on a root canalled tooth that hurts, i would advise against it. if the tooth is a back tooth (molar), then a crown is advisable, but only when the tooth is no longer causing you any pain.

Hi everyone! I'm new to this group. My name is Debbie. I'm 37, married with 5 kids, living in Northeast Ohio (Wadsworth). 4 days ago I had my 2nd root canal. It's 6 am and I haven't been to sleep since I got up yesterday at 11 am... sigh... why? because I'm in PAIN! :mad:

May I vent to you? Someone who may actually understand what I am going through??? (since my family is sick of hearing me complain...) :yawn:

My first root canal was 7 years ago. I had all kinds of complications with it, and it was months before the pain was manageable. Plus, at the time, I had a dentist who was NOT sympathetic to my pain, and basically treated me like I was a hypochondriac! Haven't seen him in 7 years, and don't miss him! LOL :wave:

Just recently started having severe sensitivity to cold, heat, air, etc. on my bottom molar in the back. My regular dentist took an xray and said I needed a root canal, and gave me a referral to see an Endodontist.

This endodontist is somewhat nice, but not warm and fuzzy, if you know what I mean. Oh, and the price - Good Grief!!!! :eek:

So I had the root canal done, and he didn't want to prescribe any pain medication. I have a VERY low tolerance for pain, so I told him I really WOULD need something, and he gave me a scrip for vicoprofen - 16 pills and Clendomycin (antibiotic). I already had a prescription of Motrin from my reg. dentist, and I'm taking that every 4 hours (800 mg). I finished up the vicoprofen a few hours ago, but still have motrin and antibiotic.

This all took place 4 days ago, and I am still in a LOT of pain! I am chewing everything on the opposite side of my mouth, but every once in a while something gets over on the r/c side and the pain is excruciating!!! This tooth and surrounding gum, tendons, etc., constantly aches, a dull, steady ache. Not a lot of swelling or discoloration, but the steady pain is horrible! This is why I am still awake at 6 am....... :yawn:

I found your group while searching for more information on root canals, possible complications of, and post-operative care, because I am frustrated and don't know what to do. I am SO thankful that I have this group and now I know I'm not alone! :)

Before I call the dentist later today (which I WILL do if the pain is the same as it is right now...), I'd like to hear from everyone/anyone with more experience than me -

ADVICE/SUGGESTIONS:

what would you do?
would you have an apicoectomy done if suggested?
would you have an extraction?
would you go to another endodontist?
what pain meds besides motrin worked the best for you?
(both narcotic and over the counter)
Were there any home remedies that helped relieve the pain?
:confused:

Any advice anyone can give me would be SO appreciated!!! :angel:

You can reply to this post or email me directly at:
[ please carefully review the posting rules - no emails ]

If you actually made it through this post and are still awake... thanks for letting me vent. Again, it feels so good just knowing I'm not alone anymore. :rolleyes:

Deb
Wadsworth, Ohio

:D




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Deb,

Firstly, if you are taking vicoprofen and 800mg of Ibuprofen every 4 hours, then you are overdosing. Your maximum should be a totaly of 800mg every 6 hours but remember that vicoprofen already has 200mg of ibuprofen in it.

Now, onto the root canal issue... I would advise returning to your endodontist. There may be any number of reasons why your tooth is hurting now. Some common reasons may be 1) the temporary filling is too high and you are biting hard on that tooth 2) there is another tooth involved in addition to the one that was treated. 3) You are having what's called a "flare up" which occurs in a very low percentage of patients after a root canal - basically a temporary increase in symptoms due to the treatment. 4) Your root is fractured 5) there is another canal: The list goes on and on...

Bottom line is, go back to you endodontist and have him/her evaluate your situation.

Oh Rush! This is like the Never Ending Story!! Sorry I haven't been on-board for a few weeks. Sometimes reading people's problems that are like mine makes it hurt worse. Make sense? Are you sleeping through the night now? No, I don't wake up in pain, thank goodness. Must be all the wine I drink in the evening. :-) The gum just feels bruised, you know? I can feel it there all the time. When I swallow, etc. I'm trying not to eat anything crunchy on that side, I don't want to crack the tooth. Still not going to get the crown anytime soon. Don't want to go back to the endo either (like you're doing almost daily!!!) Am going to try out a new dentist for a cleaning so I'll ask what she thinks. Hang in there and write when you want to!

I know exactly how you feel I had a rootcanal done on a front tooth in 98 and it was fine then but something made if flair up again which surprised me because I thought they kill the root so no more pain right? I was wrong so in 04 they redid the root canal and gave me a round of antibiotics and percocet for the pain it was around christmas but it was the worst toothache of my life I really just wanted to yank the tooth out the only thing that helped me get any sleep was holding ice to my gum and extra strength tylenol which is weird the percocet did nothing but the tylenol did and tons of anbesol.. The major pain went away eventually after 2 weeks the dentist couldnt find nothing else wrong with it and the tooth still aches everynow and then so I hope you get relief soon I dont think theres nothing worse than a toothache.. :confused:

Alot of what everyone sounds like they have are tooth abcesses... I had a tooth abcess which 'caused me the worst pain I've EVER felt. Also, the tooth abcesses give you an ear ache feeling. Eventually I got the root canal which killed the pain, but my face was still extremely swollen like a chipmunk. I had to have a drain put in and it brought down much of the swelling. With antibiotics, pretty much all of the swelling is gone in my face. I still have some annoying swelling in the gumline around the tooth and the tooth is still sore.. sorta like a feeling of a cavity, but I've been reading and it sounds like this will just take a while for the infection to fully die. This has been a terrible and never ending process... and Yes, the endodontist office knows me on a first name basis now lol Hopefully I'll be done w/ this and be a success story soon. Good luck everyone.